No lessons learnt from Singur, Nandigram: Azmi

Cautioning that incidents like in
Greater Noida are bound to happen if authorities don`t learn from similar episodes in Nandigram and Singur, actress-activist Shabana Azmi demanded greater focus on relief and rehabilitation.

Lucknow: Cautioning that incidents like in
Greater Noida are bound to happen if authorities don`t learn
from similar episodes in Nandigram and Singur, actress-activist
Shabana Azmi on Wednesday demanded greater focus on relief and
rehabilitation of displaced people during land acquisition.

"If lessons are not learnt from Singur and Nandigram
then such things are bound to happen," she said when asked
about farmers unrest in western Uttar Pradesh over land
acquisition.
"Focus should be given on relief and rehabilitation work
and people, whose land is being acquired should be made the
part of the development," Azmi told reporters here.

She said that people, whose land is being acquired,
should be made stakeholders and employment to them or their
family members should be ensured.

"Compensation should be fair. Money as compensation will
not work, it should be land for land," she said.

Nandigram in West Bengal saw violent protests against the
state government`s plan to acquire land for a chemical hub two
years ago while similar agitation in Singur led to shifting of
the Tata Nano factory.
Azmi said that rehabilitation should be a part of the
acquisition process.

"A balance should be maintained and there should be a
dialogue. The question is not whether the land acquisition
policy is good or not, the question is whether a person is
giving his land willingly or not," her husband and lyricist
Javed Akhtar said.

Azmi said that it is a big challenge as the country heads
towards growth and land is required to develop infrastructure.

"But if justice is not done then it will lead to
chaos. People, whose land is being acquired should get maximum
benefit of the progress," she said.

Akhtar said that while ensuring industrial growth,
agriculture should also be modernised.

On the issue of corruption, Aami said the people were
united in fighting against it which was an indicator that they
were fed up with the menace.

"Though I have been associated with anti-corruption
drive, but I was not expecting that the result would come so
soon. Lokpal Bill could be a big medium," she said.

Azmi and Akhtar were in the city to inaugurate newly
constructed auditorium at All India Kaifi Azmi Academy
named after her father.

"We have lot of plans for the academy including
launching a new course," Azmi, who launched the official
website of the academy, said.

She claimed that the Rs 93 lakh given by the Uttar
Pradesh government in 2007 for the academy were not being
released by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation.

"We will talk with the government and will raise the
issue before the Governor," she said.